Evaluation of the Local Epinephrine Anesthesia without Tourniquet in the Surgical Treatment of Hand Injuries in Adults: About 27 Cases in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, surgery for hand injuries is usually performed under axillary or general anesthesia. This is often not without consequences. The Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) is, therefore, an anesthetic asset in the surgical treatment of hand injuries. This study aims to share an experience on this technique’s effectiveness and to spark interest among African authors and practitioners. Method: This prospective study focuses on 27 surgeries of hand injuries carried out with WALANT. The study spanned over nine months (November 2021-August 2022) and included 19 men and eight women with a mean age of 35.4 years (extremes: 19 and 54). There were five (18%) flexor tendon ruptures, three of which were in zone 2, eleven (41%) metacarpal fractures, four of which were open, seven (26%) phalangeal fractures, two of which were open, and four (15%) finger springs. The operated lesions were assessed at a minimum of three months. The pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale. The QuickDASH score was evaluated for each patient at the end of the follow-up period. Results: Intra-operatively, the mean value of the Visual Analog Scale was 1/10, with extreme values of 1/10 and 3/10. Of the five cases of flexor tendon ruptures, three were located in zone 2 and two in zone 3. The metacarpal fractures were divided into seven closed diaphyseal fractures and four extra-articular metaphyseal fractures. Four of the seven phalangeal fractures were oblique diaphyseal, and three were transverse diaphyseal. The treatment of the protruding fingers followed the conventional technique. The assessment of the QuickDASH score in the months following surgery showed a score of 11.8 in the first month, 10.3 in the second month, and 5.0 in the third month. Conclusion: WALANT is an easy-to-use, unexpensive anesthetic technique that enables shorter operating times. It rarely presents complications. It is recommended for hand surgeries performed with limited technical resources.